Vanguard - The Writing Project

Hello hello!
I've recently moved back into my house on campus for school, and unfortunately can't get ethernet connection into my bedroom, which means my nice desktop PC I usually use for Vanguard is pretty much useless, since I don't have the extra cashes to buy a wireless card and I really don't want to run an ethernet cable through my entire house. Drilling would be complicated with a rental etc. etc. ( I could probably get ethernet if I tried hard enough, but it would just make Vanguard a first-class distraction )
SO in the meantime, I'm picking up with my writing again! I've always loved writing Fantasy, since I was 11 years old and playing the original Everquest. What can I say, it always inspired my love for the genre. I won a Penguin Young Writer award at age 12, but never finished anything more than a short story. So I figured I'd brush off the dust a little and write a Fan-Fic of sorts about my character and the friends that I play with.
Let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own or intend to claim ownership of anything SOE related in this piece of writing. Including my character, the zones mentioned, or anything referred to that is owned by SOE. Thanks!

A Cloak of Shadows, and the Prophet’s Fury

Raiyos deftly spun a platinum idol between her fingers, the cool metal flickering rapidly across her bruised knuckles. Her black eyes glimmered in the darkness, darting quickly around her campsite; surveying, searching, ever watchful. The flames from the campfire glittered brightly in the moonlit sky, sending smoke up to the canopy of foliage above. This swamp was no place for adventurers. But Raiyos had learned to filter out the many sounds of nature - the sharp crack of branches as arboreal inhabitants swung themselves from tree to tree; the croak of the toads basking in the moonlight amongst seafoam ponds and mires. Raiyos was all too familiar with the sound she was listening for. Pressing her hand to her side, she winced as she felt the broken rib shift under her skin. Dam_n trolls.
Three days and three nights Raiyos had spent in this forsaken wasteland. Searching for a place that was said to yield immeasurable treasures, if one could only wrest it away from the elves and dragons that so diligently kept watch over it. Raiyos could see the spires of the city rising in the distance, illuminated only by the moon above. Thelaseen, home of the drake-riders. She had almost given up hope that she would live to see it, for she had already seen too much of the dangers that lay between her and her destination. Trolls, lizardmen, and a strange companion who had disappeared in search of magical herbs. Although she was reluctant to admit it, this canine-like humanoid had saved her from a nearly fatal encounter with a swamp troll; blinding the creature with a mixture of swamp mud and what appeared to be a swarm of insects. Still, Raiyos was skeptical at best; and staring off into the darkness, she couldn’t help but feel as though someone was watching her every move. She shifted uneasily, keeping her balance on a log which struggled under her weight.
Allowing her eyes to close for a moment, Raiyos passed her hand over the idol held tightly in her fist. Give me the strength to persevere, oh Warlord. It is my duty and calling to bring honor to your house. If I should fall in battle, leave me behind, as I have failed you and my ancestors, and been proven unworthy of glory. Raiyos’ eyes flickered open for a moment. Somewhere in the blackness, she could hear the slow but careful shuffling of feet. Strength welled up inside her; she could feel the blood pounding in her head. With one last respectful glance to her statuette, Raiyos’ hand grasped the pommel of her sword, the worn hilt fitting perfectly into her palm. As the hooded figure burst into her encampment, Raiyos struck swiftly, sending the intruder spinning onto the soggy moss as the hilt of her blade came crashing over his head. Raiyos pounced upon the unfortunate vagabond, her blade quivering inches from his throat.
“Gah! You worthless, stupid, shield-thumping waste of troll dung!” The mysterious figure threw down his hood and spat in Raiyos’ face. Startled, Raiyos recoiled and brushed herself off, dragging the companion she now recognized to her feet.
“You have the tactical sense of a half-giant,” Raiyos snarled back with contempt, “I could’ve heard you coming from back at the Ward.” Her companion waved her arms and her lips spread to reveal a smile of sharp gleaming teeth, dripping crimson with blood.
“Ah, so Shar has the sense of a giant, unless you be needin’ me to save yer sorry hide!” Raiyos scoffed and threw down her blade, returning to her seat on the rotten log. She pointed to the pouch held in Shar’s claws,
“So while you were out waking the dam_n dragons, did you find what you were looking for?” Still smiling, Shar opened the burlap sack she was carrying. Overturning the bag, she emptied it of two fresh rabbits, and a pile of brown leaves. Raiyos crossed her arms over her chest in disdain, wincing at the pain.
“Leaves. You brought me leaves.” Shar looked hurt, but picked up the leaves and dashed over to Raiyos so quickly that the warrior curled her hands into fists to defend herself. “Step off, whelp, or I’ll give you another bump just like the last one.” Shar took a step backwards, letting the brown plants fall from her hand one by one as she spoke.
“Dey only be good for a few hours after pickin’. You want Shar’s help or not? I can leave ya to die out here, but that would be no good for either of us, ya get? Da swamp is no place for one Vulmane, ya gotta have friends you can…trust.” The smell of rotten meat had Raiyos gagging as Shar brought her face closer. “I won’t let ya die out here, ya get? Shar needs good friends. Rai is good friend, I can see it. I see lotta things.”
Raiyos fought back the urge to vomit, wiping a hand across her lips. She stared up at the moon, rotating her shoulder slowly. The excruciating creak of bone on bone left her immobilized in pain, stifling a scream. She felt pressure in her chest, one of her broken ribs was pressing against her lungs.
“Yeah, I get. Fix me up, then.” Shar nodded happily and rolled up her sleeves, slowly pushing Raiyos’ arm upward. Gently pressing the leaves to Raiyos’ cracked rib, Shar began to rock slowly back and forth on her heels, muttering an incantation. The poultice began to glow orange, and Raiyos’ eyes grew wide as the leaves became one with her skin, the veins merging with her own. In panic, she attempted to stand, but found she could not move. Drawing every ounce of willpower left in her battered body, she pulled with all her might, but Shar’s grip on her wrist was unbreakable. But then, as quickly as it began, the ritual was over. Shar released her arm, and Raiyos scampered backwards away from the shaman, tripping over her log perch and splashing through fetid swamp water. Toads scattered in every direction, croaking their displeasure.

Drawing a dagger from her boot, Raiyos dashed forward and caught Shar by the throat, slamming her backwards into a tree. Shar continued to grin, fueling Raiyos’ fury. Warrior blood coursed through her veins, fueling her muscles. Her vision clouded, Raiyos dug her hands sharply into Shar’s neck, lifting her high into the air. Shar’s content smile was quickly erased as she began to grunt, struggling for breath. Her feet kicked helplessly as Raiyos tightened her grip, choking the life from the helpless canine. “I help...” she gasped, “Rai, you see, don’t hurt…” Shar’s eyes rolled up into her head, “me…”
Raiyos released her grip and let the unconscious Vulmane collapse in a pile at the foot of the tree. Leaning down slowly, Raiyos forced her dagger back into the sheath of her boot, kicking it back into place. The fire faded from her eyes, and Raiyos slowly drifted back to the swamp, the fury slowly fading into nothingness. Nothingness.
Raiyos rotated her shoulder; pressed against her side. No pain. Nothing. She leaned sideways and stretched her legs, taking a deep breath to test her ribs. Dam_n. Dam_n. What have I done? Dashing to Shar’s side, Raiyos dropped to a knee, pressing a finger against her throat. A pulse. Weak, but ever present. Dragging her companion closer to the fire, Raiyos dug enough moss to create a suitable rest for Shar’s head. Nothing to do now but wait. Wait and hope.

Next Chapter: The Mad Jester and the Dragoon

Edit: Wall of text crits YOU for 5000 damage.

hey Dom, I enjoyed reading this, thanks for posting.

Interesting read, let's find out a bit more about the main chars background